Katherine Heigl Rejects Emmy Possibility, Slams "Grey's" Material

LOS ANGELES — Katherine Heigl won't be chewing her manicure at this year's Emmy ceremony: She says she didn't seek a nomination because "Grey's Anatomy" failed to deliver the goods for an award-worthy performance.

Heigl, who was honored as best supporting actress in a drama last year for the ABC series, declined to put her name in consideration for a bid, a spokeswoman for the actress said Wednesday.

"I did not feel that I was given the material this season to warrant an Emmy nomination and in an effort to maintain the integrity of the academy organization" decided against competing, Heigl said in a written statement provided by her publicist, Melissa Kates, who was contacted by the AP.

"In addition, I did not want to potentially take away an opportunity from an actress who was given such materials," added Heigl. She plays Dr. Izzie Stevens on "Grey's Anatomy," which slipped in the ratings this past season but remained a top 10 show.

An after-hours message left with a publicist for "Grey's Anatomy" creator and executive producer Shonda Rhimes was not immediately returned Wednesday night.

Heigl, who shot to box-office success last summer with the comedy "Knocked Up," has established herself as one of Hollywood's rare voices of candor.

In a Vanity Fair magazine interview published in January, she called the hit film "a little sexist" and said that it painted women as "shrews, as humorless and uptight," while the male characters were lovable and goofy.

Heigl also was outspoken when "Grey's" castmates Isaiah Washington and T.R. Knight clashed last year over Washington's alleged use of a homophobic slur.

"I'm going to be really honest right now, he needs to just not speak in public. Period," Heigl said at one point of Washington, who ended up being booted from the medical drama.

Nominations for the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards will be announced July 17. The ceremony is Sept. 21.

Comments

[faust2001]

The writers strike was the best thing that happened to Hollywood. But like all good things, it had to come to an end.
That said, she does realize she's working on a soap opera, yes?

[DennyCrane]

Pretty admirable of her. I don't watch the show, but if you're an actor and you're getting stuck with bad material, then speak up about it. I hate actors who just repeat the company line. Also very classy to take herself out of the running. Even if she didn't win, she'd be potentially depriving someone else more deserving of a nomination. Plus, what a great way to send a message to the producers and the fans, who probably don't like the material either. Too often, it's the burden of the actors to defend bad writing. Let the producers and the writers do that.

[fetacheese]

admirable? when you don't like what you're being asked to do at your place of work, do you take it to your boss directly or do you release a statement through your publicist? how passive-aggressive and childish of her. there is such a thing as tact and professionalism and she is quite lacking in both.

it's time the writer's give her the ol' elevator shaft joey tribbiani style--which is it what it seems like she wants anyway. let her go make movies and continue pissing on the people who work with and/or hire her, and we'll see just how far her star continues to rise.

[RatgurlSD]

Perhaps she HAS taken her issues to the writers, and probably to no avail.

While I believe one should speak up when confronted with sub-par requests (in this case, a poor script), there ARE certain channels through which one must move to make oneself heard. Short of that, perhaps the only way to clearly state her disapproval is to submit her resignation.

But I have to agree on the poor script writing - it HAS become too much of a soap oera, & not the witty show it started out as. Hence the reason I stopped watching 2 seasons ago.

[monsieurjac]

She was right about Mr. Washington and she's right about this too.
GA has run out of story lines and has recycled itself right into a paper bag full of stale Cheetos.
Her character has been left in dork limbo throughout the last season and she's entitled to talk about it.
Great actors and bad writing don't add up to much.
They even brought back the redhead for an episode where the plot had more twists than a Chubby Checker Boxed Set.
Time to get back to work or it's "Good night nurse".

[joust1]

A princess hissy fit. Not too cool with about a million other Barbies just waiting to knock her off her high-horse. Like she is just this very very special human being, doncha know? A real pro all right!

[grn1]

That's the point Barbies are animated by others words and instructed action and do not have any creative talent. It does take a human being to recognize the big picture and Hollywood is happier with ass kissing than the service of real entertainment. Do you think it's possible that they will get back to the business of entertainment instead of one big info-mercial for the government. I's been so messy and destructive.

[rua]

It sounds like she is ungrateful but to be honest I really admire her for making that kind of choice. I don't watch Grey's Anatomy any more because it stopped being interesting but I would watch any of Heigl's movies. I think she has a solid fanbase outside the show.

[ChiGuy]

It doesn't sound as though she's particularly angry about it. I don't see so much a slam, as an acceptance that this just wasn't her rotation.
She's a pro, and knows that in an ensemble cast, sometimes one light will shine brighter that the others, and her first turn was last year. She nailed the material she was given, and richly deserved the recognition and accolades that came her way as a result.

She's smart and very talented, and will have plenty of opportunities in the future, and she knows it.

[devilyousay]

This has nothing to do with a moral backbone or doing what's "right". Heigl, like many actors, is beginning to believe her own PR that she's the new America's sweetheart and can do no wrong.

This is an ego powerplay and nothing more. She wants to influence how her part is written. That isn't her job. She signed a contract and she needs to shut the F Up and fullfill it.

Remember, the Emmy isn't just about her. It's about a validation of the team she seems to forget she's a part of. Also, it's about generating PR buzz for the nominees. Awards show in Hollywood have nothing to do with genuine concern for recognizing talent. It's all about PR. What do you think the Oscars are for? Why do you think people were crapping their pants in the industry at the thought that Awards season would be cancelled for the Writer's Strike? It's all about ratings and advertising and the ego that roared has just spat in the faces of ehr bosses and denied the show vital PR.

[LiberalBuzz]

Balderdash.

PR would have been her promoting herself like crazy to get an Emmy. She was right her performances in the past season were hardly Emmy worthy. The storylines were lame and the writing appears to be suffering as well. I used to like the medical soap opera but this last year has been nothing more than rewrites.

Katherine HAS fulfilled every part of her contract. She has performed very well but the material given her hasn't been up to par. THAT is more important than trying to BS people into thinking things are great.

I believe you have no idea of what makes a great actress or great writers. This season the writers fell down so why should she promote something SHE doesn't believe in?

AND she was right, this allows another actress an opportunity. Remember it was the writers who screwed things up this past season for a mere couple of PENNIES. While I agreed they were right, it reached a point of diminishing returns.

Blame the writers and not Miss Heigl. She is spot on.

[conniedogs]

Well said!

[aberforth]

Is her "stand" going to bring attention to world hunger or even American deficit spending? I don't think so. This is just a dumb actor who arrogantly decided trashing her peers and all their hard work would not adversely affect her career. Or, even worse, she thought she must fall on the sword of righteousness on behalf of all prime time television--wow, what a noble cause.

[ewj1]

Can you say David Duchovney or David Caruso. She will leave the show, do a couple of movies, and come back to TV.

[ChiGuy]

She has MUCH more range and talent that either of those two. (And I'm a fan of both)

[heather11483]

Come on, Kat, I love you but you can't get snitty because you didn't get another Denny storyline. Really great actors can shine no matter what the storyline. You should be honest about whatever it is you're really mad about.

[tasukibeth1]

I dumped GA after that shomach-churning "Izzie-George" storyline.

However, I love the Heigl. She seems to actually have a brain inside that head of hers.

[sisterdebmac]

For people who actually watch the show, I think KH might have been trying to articulate exactly what tasukibeth1 is alluding to --- that the Izzie/George storyline was such an incredible misstep it ruined the season for both KH & TRK. They were probably my favorite characters before the writers thought up this fiasco of a storyline. I mean, really, must every single character on the show be an insufferable, selfish lout? You could almost see in the eyes of these two very talented actors that they were embarrassed as hell by what they were being forced to play. And I think that's probably one reason their storyline was cut short. Well, that and fan outcry.

Because of this storyline though, my attention and sympathy shifted from Izzie and George to Callie. Can't say I really cared for what they did to her at the end of this past season either, but it was wonderful to watch the amazingly talented and beautiful Sara Ramirez step up and become a more prominent member of the cast.

[petecook5]

Career over in 2 years. She could have protested the material by quitting the show. Instead she snubs a lame awards show that means nothing anyway.

[woundedduck]

Wrong. Emmy's mean a lot in Los Angeles and most actors are so afraid of ever offending anyone that could give them a future job they just roll over and do whatever they're told. For an actor to criticize the writing of a tv show is to criticize not only the gigantic ego who created and runs the show, but the network execs whose responsibility it is to keep its ratings high. It take a lot of balls to do what she did, so don't be so dismissive of something you obviously know very little.

[petecook5]

Yep...I'm sure she pissed off the giant ego who created the show. Maybe we'll see Izzy falling to her death from the hospital roof soon. or squashed by an ambulance on her way into work. That would be rather funny.

While I'm sure that everyone in LA thinks awards shows are the raison d'etre for us all. Most people (those who don't live for tabloid hollywood news) could give a $hit.

[phoenics]

There are tons of actors and actresses out there with multiple Emmys who are now has-beens. Hollywood is also about tact and the ability to 'win friends and influence people'. With this current economy, I'm not sure producers and the like will take kindly to what she's done. Any little thing can affect their bottom line and an actress known for trashing the project she's on is a liability.

But time will tell.

[levibatgirl]

She was able to settle into her character as moving toward stability and away from the drama queen.
She was likable again by the end of the season.

Ok, I'm a fan of the show. I admit it. : D

[SHOPARAZZI]

she had to know that this year's emmy will only go to glenn close. none of the other contenders come close.

[shanester]

pun intended i presume?? LOL

[Biscuit]

Yeah... I didn't really dig her show, and I tried, but Glenn Close is still the best actor I've ever seen.

[SHOPARAZZI]

she had to know that this year's emmy will only go to clean close. none of the contenders come close.